Hatteras Girl (Heart of Carolina Book #3) by Wisler Alice J

Author:Wisler, Alice J. [Wisler, Alice J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2010-10-01T00:00:00+00:00

23

Buck does own two sea kayaks and they are here, by the edge of the Sound in Buxton, just a few hundred yards from The Rose Lattice, the place where Sheerly and her group make music on Saturday nights. Buck tells me he purchased one of the kayaks off eBay from a dentist in Myrtle Beach, and the other he received as a high school graduation gift. He asks if I want the blue or red one. The blue one has a polished look and is somehow more inviting, so I choose it.

He buckles a bright green life vest around me. Then he puts on a matching one. “Now, you’ve done this before, right?”

“Years ago.” I hope he can’t sense my nervousness. It’s not the water I’m afraid of; I just don’t want to make a fool of myself in front of him, or in front of anyone. I’ve seen too many America’s Funniest Home Videos in which a woman gets into a canoe and immediately topples into the river.

“You’ll remember.” He secures his Hurricanes cap on his head. “You need a hat? I know you have lots of those fisherman ones.”

“I collect them,” I say. “So they just sit.”

“Hats that sit.” He grins. “Do you have hats that you wear?”

“Sometimes.”

Playfully, he says, “Ah, I bet you’re afraid they’ll mess up your hair.”

I had a friend in high school who owned a two-seater kayak and we’d paddle in it on summer afternoons. I always felt it was a lot of work, although it did strengthen my arm muscles. “Will I be sore tomorrow?” I ask Buck as I put on a pair of sunglasses.

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“If you actually paddle today. If I have to tote you the whole way, then my arms will be sore and yours will be fine.”

“Tote me? You think I’m going to act like a baby?”

Buck laughs as we make our way down the embankment to the edge of the water. I brace myself to get into the kayak I’ve chosen. Swallowing hard, I nod to show that I’m ready. He holds the back of the kayak until I’m seated, my legs positioned in front of me, my feet resting on the foot pegs. I have a sinking feeling that there is no way this long, skinny contraption will hold me. I wait while Buck pushes his kayak out onto the water and climbs in.

I watch as he quickly paddles with one swift stroke on the right and then another on the left. He repeats the actions, gently heading away from me. I hurry to catch up by following his method, and with one movement splash myself when the paddle slaps against the water. Laughing, I wipe drops from my face and sunglasses.

Buck smiles at me but doesn’t tease. As we paddle away from the shore, me carefully following Buck, I note how peaceful the water is. There are a few ripples, but Buck did choose a good afternoon to venture out into the Sound—the wind is calm and the tide is still out.

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